Justice Kotani

Justice Kotani

PhD Student

I am a PhD student in Geography in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences at UNC Charlotte, advised by Dr. Fushcia-Ann Hoover. My research sits at the intersection of urban planning, green infrastructure, gentrification, and sustainability. I focus on how cities can grow in ways that are both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. 

My dissertation focuses on urban forest governance and tree canopy loss in Sun Belt cities. It draws on the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework and Urban Forest Social-Ecological Systems (UFSES) theory. Using comparative policy and institutional analysis, participatory action methods, and geospatial analysis, I investigate how governance arrangements and public-private partnerships shape canopy retention under development pressure. Beyond my dissertation, my research spans forest landscape restoration and livelihoods, urban resilience, and Sustainability. I currently serve as a Teaching Assistant for Plant Geography.

My interest in urban development began in Ghana, where I grew up seeing the challenges of rapid urbanization firsthand. Before coming to UNC Charlotte, I worked on development projects with local communities and international organizations, and that work continues to shape my perspective. I hold an MSc in Sustainability from the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) in Tokyo, Japan, and a BSc in Development Planning from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana.

Recent Publications: 

  • Kotani, J. S., Pastor-Ivars, J., Asibey, M. O., & Kpeebi, Y. (2026). Forest landscape restoration and the pursuit of just livelihoods: Reflections from Ghana’s modified Taungya system (MTS) restoration approach. Forest Policy and Economics, 191, 103896.
  • Kotani, J. S., & Ivars, J. P. (2026). Evaluating the long-term effectiveness of forest landscape restoration in Ghana through integrated GIS and satellite time-series analysis. Trees, Forests and People, 26, 101328.
  • Kotani, J. S and Flemming, J. (2026) Building Resilient Communities Through Local Comprehensive Planning, Columbia, SC: Central Midlands Council of Governments. 
  • Kotani, J. S., Akrofi, M. M., & Okitasari, M. (2025). Synergies and trade-offs between Ghana’s nationally determined contributions and sustainable development goals. Next Research, 100938.
  • Kotani, J. S., Takyi, S. A., Asibey, M. O., Amponsah, O., Quagraine, V. K., & Liwur, S. B. (2024). Planning in Ghana: analysis of the various forms of professional misconduct from the perspective of professional planners. Planning Practice & Research, 39(4), 683-702. 

Teaching Assistant Position: GEOG 3102: Plant Geography

Areas of research interest: 

  • Urban forest governance
  • Green infrastructure
  • Sustainability 
  • Urban resilience 
  • Forest landscape restoration

Advisor’s name: Dr. Fushcia-Ann Hoover